Land Use Planning In Hydropower Development A Case Study Of Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project

Abstract

Many developing countries do not focus on land use planning in hydropower development. As a result hydropower projects are not sustainable. The aim of the study is to analyze the cause and effects of land use planning in hydropower development. The primary and secondary data were collected in a case study site at the Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Project (UTHEP) in Dolakha district of Nepal. Household questionnaire, key informants? interviews and field observation were conducted to collect primary data while the relevant documents such as detailed feasibility report, property valuation report and spatial data (cadastral data, image etc.) were also collected for the study. The primary and secondary data reveals that Land use changes involved in the UTHEP implementation is basically due to the permanent and temporary land acquisition for project structures, facilities and reservoir area. The total land acquired for various project components like access road, powerhouse, desanding basin, reservoir as well as construction borrow pits and quarries, temporary and permanent work camps and construction of access road is estimated to be 182 ha. The secondary data reveals that 66 ha are allocated in agricultural land, 78 ha in forest land and 38 ha in the barren and cliff land. The results from secondary data and interviews confirm that UTHEP has planned to distribute 10% share to the residents of Dolakha district to promote local level investment. Finally, the study finds that land use planning has very important role for minimizing negative social and environmental effects thus create sustainability of the hydropower projects. It is also found that overall environmental impacts are limited because of technological development such as tunnel and underground powerhouse in UTHEP. The land tenure, Land use planning stakeholders and their role, Governance, policy, social structure etc. are the basic requirements of land use planning for sustainable development of hydropower projects.